HighPoint Unveils New SSD6202A Low-profile AIC NVMe Boot Drive Solution

[GFreeman]

For enterprises in search of a high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective boot-drive solution, the HighPoint SSD6202A is the ideal choice. Engineered for enterprise computing environments, the robust, low-profile PCIe NVMe RAID AIC enhances the reliability and redundancy of the host platform by isolating the system's boot device from critical applications and primary data storage. The SSD6202A incorporates an impressive array of hardware and software features designed to maximize the performance, reliability and serviceability of NVMe storage media.

Native Hardware Support Streamlines Integration & Service Workflows
SSD6202A AICs are natively supported by all current Linux and Windows-based operating system and virtualization platforms, and require no additional device drivers or software applications to perform optimally. Hosted NVMe SSDs and RAID arrays will be automatically recognized as ordinary drives during OS installation, and can be formatted and partitioned as desired. The universal PCIe x8 host interface enables the SSD6202A to be seamlessly integrated into any PCIe Gen 3, 4 or 5 platform, and can deliver up to 7,000 MB/s of real-world transfer throughput using just a pair of off-the-shelf M.2 SSDs.



Maximize Reliability with Integrated Host RAID Technology
The SSD6202A's integrated host RAID 1 mirroring technology effectively shields bootable volumes from the threat of device failure by maintaining an automated, "hidden" backup disk. The mirrored disk is normally invisible to the host platform, and will only activate in the case the primary drive should fail. The hand-off is a seamless process, and entirely transparent to the host platform, which will continue to operate without interruption.

Key Applications that Stand to Benefit from HighPoint SSD6202A:

• Enterprise Data Centers: Data center environments can reap significant benefits from using the SSD6202A for boot management. The AIC isolates the OS storage from application and data storage, which can improve overall system performance. Native hardware support simplifies service and upgrade procedures, while redundant RAID 1 mirroring technology effectively shields the OS from the risk of device failure, further mitigating the risk of downtime.
• Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs): SMBs often rely on cost-effective solutions to streamline server administration. The SSD6202A's affordability, native hardware support, integrated RAID technology and versatile management tools provide an ideal bootable framework for any cost-effective server and workstation platform. In addition, thanks to dual M.2 NVMe device ports, the SSD6202A is significantly faster and more responsive than competing solutions, such as Dell's BOSS series of controller cards, which rely on SATA-based SSDs.
• Cloud Service Providers: Cloud Service providers can optimize the efficiency of storage servers by isolating the host OS from primary storage infrastructure. Utilizing the SSD6202A to host and manage bootable volumes enables the primary storage to be wholly dedicated to customer workloads, thereby freeing resources, enhancing efficiency and maximizing storage performance.
• Virtualization Platforms: HCI (hyperconverged infrastructure) or VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) solutions employ software applications to replace traditional server hardware in order to reduce cost and streamline maintenance and service workflows. SSD6202A is ideal for such applications - a single compact AIC can directly host multiple, bootable virtual drives for both server and client-side services and are natively supported by leading HCI and VDI suites, including VMware vSAN and ESXi, and Microsoft's Azure & Hyper-V. Integrated Host RAID technology enables administrators to tailor each volume to maximize storage performance or reliability.
• Edge Computing and Remote Offices: In Remote Office/Branch Office (ROBO) environments, where local workloads require simplified boot solutions, the SSD6202A ensures dependable server boot operations without having to dedicate high-performance local storage to the OS. Edge computing deployments in geographically distributed server setups can also benefit from this reliable and efficient boot drive solution.

Now Shipping!
The HighPoint SSD6202A is now available through our worldwide distribution and reseller channels. With this cost-effective, reliable boot drive management solution, businesses of all sizes can streamline server deployments and improve system performance across a wide range of applications.

• SSD6202A PCIe 3.0 x8 2x M.2 NVMe Host RAID AIC - MSRP USD $149.00
• SSD6204A PCIe 3.0 x8 4x M.2 NVMe Host RAID AIC - MSRP USD $159.00

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[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I've got an old Highpoint SSD7104 3.0x16 RAID card in my home server/NAS as the first storage tier with four HP EX950s in it and it's been running flawlessly for years. I have a relative who is a Network engineer at some big company, so I was able to get a used one for him on the cheap, it's been a great addition.

 

[kapone32]

Do these come with a controller for native RAID support on the PCB?

 

[SiggiTheHun]

This is a PCIe gen3 device and has been available for a couple of years, although not for this price.
Same Marvell 88NR41 controller as in Western Digital´s WD AN1500.
Mostly plug & play - besides CLI/GUI/OOB-port you can adjust between RAID 0/1 & JBOD even with microswitches on the outside.
Note that this controller puts it´s layer of virtualization between drive and OS. So, no legacy access of the individual drives:
You have to change them to JBODs - each consisting of one drive -- until you want a RAID or 2-drive JBOD configuration, then shown as one corresponding (virtual) drive to the OS.
One can use Marvell´s CLI to manipulate the AN1500.

On the 2nd picture, specs for the 6202A and 6204A are interchanged.
Besides - the SSD6204A (PCIe3 x8) only offers two PCIe channels per installed drive.

 

[evernessince]

Do these come with a controller for native RAID support on the PCB?

The article seems to indicate as such. Highpoint typically includes DIP switches to control the RAID mode.

Although TBH, in most instances you are probably better off using software RAID instead of hardware RAID nowadays.

 

[kapone32]

This is a PCIe gen3 device and has been available for a couple of years, although not for this price.
Same Marvell 88NR41 controller as in Western Digital´s WD AN1500.
Mostly plug & play - besides CLI/GUI/OOB-port you can adjust between RAID 0/1 & JBOD even with microswitches on the outside.
Note that this controller puts it´s layer of virtualization between drive and OS. So, no legacy access of the individual drives:
You have to change them to JBODs - each consisting of one drive -- until you want a RAID or 2-drive JBOD configuration, then shown as one corresponding (virtual) drive to the OS.
One can use Marvell´s CLI to manipulate the AN1500.

On the 2nd picture, specs for the 6202A and 6204A are interchanged.
Besides - the SSD6204A (PCIe3 x8) only offers two PCIe channels per installed drive.

Thanks that confirms this. If the pricing is right this is the cheapest I have seen. Even without storage.